Healthy Food in Maine Hospitals? Check!

Authored by Emily Kain, Let’s Go! Dissemination Program Manger 

As part of our multi-sector approach to obesity prevention, we work in many sites: schools, daycares, healthcare practices etc. Now, in partnership with MaineHealth, we’re working with local hospitals to make sure the places that help us stay healthy are living healthy every day. Let’s Go! brings you Check Plus!, an easy way to identify the new healthy foods and beverages available in hospitals across the state.

Whether you work at one of the participating hospitals or find yourself visiting, you’ll have new healthy options and signage to help make the healthy choice the easy choice. Look for Check Plus!, a green Check Plus label, sticker or sign that identifies healthy options throughout the cafeteria based on guidelines from the Hospital Healthy Food Initiative.

Maine Medical Center was the first hospital to pilot the Check Plus system in March of 2014.  Their food service staff and dieticians worked together to put up signage across the cafeteria highlighting their healthiest options. We’re giving Maine Medical Center kudos for their dedication and commitment to improving the health of their employees, patients and community members!

It’s always exciting to see positive change happening in our communities. Is your local hospital one of the ten in Maine currently participating?

• Southern Maine Health Care, Biddeford Medical Center
• Southern Maine Health Care, Sanford Medical Center
• Lincoln County Healthcare
• Maine Medical Center
• Mid Coast Hospital
• Pen Bay Medical Center
• Spring Harbor Hospital
• St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center
• Stephens Memorial Hospital
• Waldo County General Hospital

For more information visit checkpluschoices.org